Safety switch



Oct. 29, 1929- E. G. JoHANssoN SAFETY SWITCH Filed April 2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS;

Oct. 29, 1929. v E. G. JOHANSSON 3,155

SAFETY SWITCH Filed April 2. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Via frw 4: A TTORNEYS Oct. 29, 1929- E. G. JOHANSSON I SAFETY SWITCH Filed April 2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mlll IN V EN TOR.

I I flaw ATTORNEYS.

E. G. JOHANSSON 1,733,155

SAFETY SWITCH Filed April 2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet I INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST G. JOHANSSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR,B Y MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE PALMER ELECTRTC & MANUFACTURING 00., OF WALTHAM, MAS- SACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS SAFETY SWITCH Applicationfile'd April 2, 1926. Serial No. 99,391.

My invention relates to safety switches for controlling electric circuits and automatic cut-outs associated therewith and has for its object to provide a new and improved inter- 5 locking switch and closure for an opening in the casing cover. It further has for its object to provide a new and improved switch mechanism adapted for safety switches whose switch arm when actuated so as to move to and 10 from the cover of the casing is more accurately guided. It further has for its object to provide a switch in which the switch arm is actuated in both directions by a pivoted bail and is easily assembled therewith and separated, therefrom. It further has for itsobject to provide a new and improved adapter for safety switch casings, and it further has for its object to provide an improved complete safety switch whichis inexpensive to manufacture and simple in construction and accurate in operation.

The following is a description of an embodiment of my invention reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows in perspective the exterior of a safety switch embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper end thereof with parts broken away to show the adapter and its method of fastening in a position to connect the safetyswitch casing with a meter casing;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the adapter reversed so as" to completely close the end of the switch casing;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the safety .switch with the cover turned on its hinges so as to be removed from the body of the casing and expose the interior thereof;

Fig. 5 is a section of the internal switch mechanism on the line 55, Fig. 4, with the switch mechanism in closed position;

Fig. 6 is a sectional-view of the same on the line 66, Fig. 4, with the parts in open position;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 7-7, Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the safety switch as a whole;

Fig. 9'is a similar view with the auxiliary closure of the safety switch in open position;

Fig. 10 is a'detail view showing the left hand end of the bail in closure-locking position;

Fig. 11 is a diagram of circuits.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 2 is the body portion ofthe casing of the safety switch. a 4 is the main cover hinged thereto at 6, Figs. 5, 9 and 10. -8 is an adapter wall having a flange 10 secured to one side thereof and surrounding an opening 12 through which the leads to and from the meter 13, Fig. 11, pass, the flangev 10 being adapted to embrace the lower-portion of the meter. This adapter wall when embracing a meter is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the meter is removed and it is desired to close the switch casing, the adapter wall is removed and replaced after being revolved 180 about its horizontal axis to the position shown in Fig. 3.

In order to secure the adapter wall in either of its two positions I provide in its opposite edges adjacent to one end, notches 14 and 16, and provide adjacent to its other end, notches 18 and 20, which notches face an enlarged opening 22, which is sufficiently large to permit the head of a headed stud 24 to be secured to a bent over flange 26, a portion of which 7 appears through the notch 18 and the outline'of which is shown in dots in Figs. 2 and 3. This stud 24 is so located that in either position of theadapter wall it lies out of alinement with the opening 22 and in one of the notches 18 and 20, thus holding that end of the wall in position. In order to secure the other end of the adapter wall I provide a headed stud 28 which is secured to a flange 30 carried by the casing body. This headed stud 28 is adjacent to the rear wall of the meter casing and provides a stud behind whose head a portion of the .adapter wall extends when the adapter wall is in either of its two positions, and constitutes a holding means for that end of the wall. A flange 32, shown in dots in Figs. 2 and 3, like the flange 26 being a bent over continuation of the side wall of the meter casing, acts as an abutment engaging the innerside of the corresponding corner of the adapter wall, when the adapter wall is in either of its two positions and assists in determining the position ofthe the flange of the cover hereafter described preventing any one from springing the corner inward, as might otherwise be done. I

The cover 4 is at its upper end provided with a depending lip 40, which when the adapter wall isreversed,as in Fig. 3, covers the opening 12 thereof so as to completely close the casing. This lip is cut away at the point 42 so as not to interfere with the headed stud 24.

44 is'the external handle of an oscillating interior bail for actuating the internal switch mechanism, the same being pivotally mount ed in the side wall of the case at 46. 48 is a stop guard for this handle.

50 is a perpendicular frame-like flange sur rounding an opening 51 in the cover and secured to the outer side of the main cover of the casing having upwardly extending ears 52. These ears are perforated and the end walls of the flange arealso perforated at 54 and through these perforations extend the parallel arms of a yoke comprising a U-shaped member 56 and a plate member 58 joining the free ends thereof. This plate member is parallel to the outer surface of the main cover and slightly spaced away therefrom. This plate member hasa downwardly projecting portion 60 which when moved to the right, with the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2-, engages the actuating handle 44 so as to be blocked thereby but can be moved with the bail 56 to the right, as shown in Fig. 3, when the handle 44 is moved downward to switch opening position. The plate member 58 is also provided with an up-' wardly projectin 'portion 62, which is parallel to one end 0 a closure 64 whose inner rear corners are pivotally mounted upon the upper arm of the U-shaped yoke. This cover has upon the end adjacent to the plate member 58 a flange 66 which when the closure is in closed position and the yoke is moved to the left, as, shown in Fig.2, lies beneath the plate member 58 so that the plate member 58 when in that position prevents the opening of the closure 64. The closure 64 is also provided with a recess having a notch 68 in which a lateral enlargement 7 0 carried by the lower yoke arm enters when the yoke is moved to the left, thereby more ositively holding thatcorner of the closure own so as to prevent any one from slightly opening the closure at that point by springing the metal. This enlargement 70 is withdrawn from the notch 68 when the yoke is moved to the right, as shown in Fig. 3.

The closure 64 adjacent to its right hand an opening 74, Fig. 9. The plate portion 62 has a corresponding opening 76 so that the closure as well as the yoke member can be sealed together when the parts arein the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by passing a wire or other seal through said openings.

The internal switch mechanism actuated by the handle 44, isshown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, and consists of a base of insulating material 7 8 secured to the rear wall of the body portion of the casing by screws 80. Secured to this base member is a metallic plate 82 carrying two parallel guide rods 84 on which is'slidingly mounted a molded switch arm block 86 having elongated perforations extending through projections 87 projecting from its body portion and closely fitting the guide rods 84; Mounted upon this switch arm block is an automatic cut-out, in the present instance shown as a fuse 87, en aging terminals 88 and 90, of a fuse receptace which. terminals are respectively connected to the end portions 92, 94 of a switch arm whose parallel extremities are adapted to engage and disengage corresponding switch contacts 96 and 98 mounted upon the base 78. This switch block together with its switch arm and fuse is reciprocated along the guide rods 84 by the bail 160, which is actuated by the handle 44. In order to removably connect the bail with the switch block I mountupon the lower portion of the switch block-a metal hook member 102 with which the transverse portion of the bail 100 is always in engagement when the parts are assembled; When, however, the screws are removed so that the base 78 can be moved relatively to the casing, a slight movement assembling and disassembling the interior switch mechanism from the casing and from the actuating member. Under normal conditions the bail prevents the removal of the switch block and limits its outward movement at a point where its surface 86 is closely adjacent to the inner surface of the cover, as shown in Fi 6.

104 is a detent pivoted to the inner side wall of the casing body at 106 and having an inturned lip 108. When the yoke is in switch opening position and this detent is turned down into the osition shown in dotted lines, in Fig. 7 it lies beneath the bail, and so long as it stays in that position locks the hail from moving to switch closing position. The square corners of the detent constitute projections engaging with the main cover 4 and prevent the detent from turning from its position shown in full lines in Fig. 7.

In addition to the switch contacts, the base 78 carries various other terminals and binding posts as indicated at 110, 111, 112, 113, and a detachable link 11 1, for the usual meter connecting and testing circuits, as is well understood by those skilled in the'art.' The ordinary circuit and meter connections are illustrated in Fig. 11.

As will be evident to those skilled'in the art, my invention permits variousmodifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a safety switch the combination of a casing, a switch therein adapted to be moved into either open or closed position, an oscillating actuating member extending through one wall of said casing and having an actuating handle outside of said casing, a cover for said casing having an opening, a sliding yoke mounted on the outside of said cover and having a portion adapted to move in and out of the path of said handle, a closure for said opening pivotally mounted on one arm of said yoke, said yoke comprising a U-shaped member and a plate member having a portion parallel to the face of said cover; and said closure having a flange extending beneath said plate portion when said closure is closed and said yoke is out of the path of said handle and an interlock betweensaid closure and said yoke preventing said yoke from being moved out of the path ofsaid handle when said closure is open, and an automatic cutout accessible through said opening when said closure is open.

2. In a safety switch the combination of a casing, a switch therein adapted to be moved into either open or closed position, an actuating member extending through one wall of said casing and having an oscillating actuating handle outside of said casing, a cover for said casing having an opening, a sliding yoke mounts on the outside of said cover having a portion adapted to move in and out of the path of said handle, a closure for said opening pivotally mounted on one arm of said yoke, the other arm of said yoke having a lateral enlargement engaging said closure and holding it closed when said yoke is out of the path of said handle and releasing said closure when the yoke is in the path of said handle, and an automatic cut-out'accessible through said opening when said closure is open.

3. In a safety switch the combination of a casing, a switch therein adapted to be moved into either open or closed position, an oscillating actuating member extending through one wall of'said casing and having an actuating handle outside of said casing, a cover for said casing having an opening, a sliding yoke mounted on the outside of said cover and having a portion adapted to move in and out of the path; of said handle, a closure for said opening pivotally mounted on one arm ofsaid yoke, said yoke comprising a plate member'having a portion parallel to the face of said cover, and said closure having a flange extending beneath said plate portion when said closure is closed and said yoke is out of the path of said handle, the arm of said yoke remote from' the pivotal axis of said closure having a projection adapted to engage the opposite end of said pivoted closure at a point removed from said flange when said extension is bene'ath'said plate portion, and an interlock between said closure and said yoke preventing said yoke from being moved out of the path of said handle when said closure is open, and an automatic cut-out accessible through said opening when said closure is open.

4. In a safety switch the combination of a casing, a switch therein adapted to be moved into either open or closed position, an oscillating' actuating member extending through one wall of said casing and having an actuating. handle outside of said casing, a cover for said casin having an opening, a'sliding yoke mounte .on the outside of said cover and having a portion-adapted to move in and outvof the path of said handle, a closure for said opening pivotally mounted on one arm of said yoke, said yoke comprising a plate member having a portion parallel to the face of said cover, and said closure having a flange extending beneath said plate portion when said closure is closed and said yoke is out o'f the path of said handle, said plate member also havin a portion lying in a plane parallel to the end of said closure and engaged by said extension when said closure is open so as to prevent said yoke being moved out of the path of said handle, and an automatic cut-out accessible through said opening when said closureis open.

5, In a safety switch the combination of a {for said casing having an opening, a sliding yoke mounted on the outside of said cover and having a portion adapted to move in and out of the path of said handle, a closure for said opening pivotally mounted on one arm of said yoke, said yoke comprising a plate member having a portion parallel to the face of: said cover and said closure having a flange extending beneath said plate portion when said closure is closed and said yoke is out of the path of said handle, said plate member having a portion lying in a plane parallel to the end of said closure and engaged by said extension when said closure is open so as to prevent said yoke being moved out of the path of said handle, said parallel portion and said closure having alining'perforations permitting the sealing of said closure and yoke, and an automatic cutout accessible through said opening when said closure is open.

6. In a safety switch, a casing, a cover removably secured to the same having an opening therein, a switch and automatic cut-out mounted in said casing. means for actuating said switch having a handle outside said casing, said cover comprising an outwardly projecting flange, a yoke slidingly mounted in said flange, a closure for said opening pivotal-' 1y mounted upon one arm of said yoke and having a skirtoverlapping said flange, said yoke when in one position holding said closure closed and permitting said actuating means to close said switch and when in its other position permitting said closure to be opened and holding said actuating member out of switch closing position, said automatic cut-out being accessible through said opening only when said closure and switch are open.

for said opening pivotally mounted on said.

cover, said yoke comprising a U-shaped mem her and a plate member having a portion parallel to the face of said cover, and said closure having a flange extending beneath said plate portion when said closure'is closed and said yoke is out of the path of said handle and an interlock between said closure and said yoke preventing said yoke from being moved out of the path of said handle when said closure is open, and an automatic cut out accessible through said opening when said closure is open.

8. In a safety switch the combination of a casing, a switch therein adapted to be moved into either open or closed position, an actuating member extending through one wall of said casing and having an oscillating actuating handle outside of saidcasing, a cover for said casing having an opening, a sliding U-shaped yoke mounted on the outside of 'said cover having a portion adapted to move in and out of the path of said handle, a closure for said opening pivotally mounted on said cover, one arm of said yoke having a lateral enlargement engaging said closure and holding it closed when said yoke is out of the path of said handle and releasing said closure when the yoke is in the path of said an actuating handle outside of said casing, I

a cover-for said casing having an opening,

a sliding yoke mounted on the outside of said cover and having a portion adapted to move in and out of the path of said handle.

' a closure for said opening pivotally mounted on said cover, said-yoke comprising two arms adjacent to the edges of said cover and a plate member having a portion parallel to the face of said cover, and said closure having a flange extending beneath said plate portion when said closure is closed and said yoke is out of the path of said handle, the arm of said yoke remote from the pivotal axis of said closure having a projection adapted to engage the opposite-end of said pivotal closure at a point removed from said flange when said extension is beneath said plate portion, and an interlock between said closure and said yoke preventing said yoke from being moved out of the path of said handle when said closure is open, and an au tomatic cut-out accessible through said opening when said closure is open.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 31st day of March, 1926.

ERNEST G. JOHANSSON. 

